Process of insulating electric conductors.



G. H. RUPLEY.

PROCESS OF INSULATING ELECTRIC GONDUGTORS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14,1907. 91 9,644, Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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G. H. RUPLEY.

PROCESS OF INSULATING ELECTRIC GONDUGTORS.

P A PLIOATION FILED OUT 14 1907 Patented Apr. 27

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. RUILEY, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOGENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF INSULATING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909.

To all'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon H. RUPLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful lmproven'ients in Processes ofInsulating Electric Conductors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the insulating of electric conductors and hasfor its object the provision of means whereby a tough, durable,fireproof coating may be applied to a conductor in a simple andeflicient manner.

My invention relates more specifically to the coating of conductors withthe fireproof material in a fiocculent condition, such for instance asasbestos.

In carrying outmy invention I apply the asbestos to the wire by means ofan adhesive. The asbestos is applied to the wire in such a manner thatthe fibers are felted together so that there will be no seams or grainto the coating. One very convenient method of applying asbestos in aloose or fiocculent condition is to mechanically throw it on, as forinstance by blowing it on to the wire. By this process an excess ofasbestos is applied which must be removed before the coating can berolled down and made smooth. I accomplish this result by picking thefiber from the wire, the result being analogous to that of picking itoff with the fingers. In carrying outthis process I find it convenientto revolve the wire so that the pickers which operate rapidly may bearranged on only one side of the wire. After the excess has been pickedolf so as to leave a uniform and relatively thin coating on the wire,the latter is passed through a polishing compound and then throughrollers which make the surface hard and smooth.

In the accompanying drawings in which I have shown my invention embodiedin a concrete mechanism, Figure 1 represents an elevation of my machine;Fig. 2 a plan view of the same; Fig.3 a longitudinal section of thepicking mechanism; Fig. 4 a cross-section of the same and Fig. 5 is adiagram of the .circuit connections.

Referring to the drawings 10 represents a framework or bed upon whichthe operating mechanism is mounted. Mounted on the lower part of thisbed and central thereof is av drive shaft 11 driven by a belt 12. A yoke13 is mounted in bearings 14 and 15 and is rotated from the shaft 11 bymeans of a belt 16. This yoke 13 is adapted to receive the spool 17 uponwhich is wound the wire to be coated. The wire runs olf of the spool 17through a guide 18 in the bearing 15, and then through a tank 19 ofadhesive coating material. The particular nature of this material formsno part of my invention, but itis essential that it be something of anadhesive nature, which will harden and which is preferablynon-hydroscgpic. For this purpose a shellac may be used, or if desiredan enamel such for instance as the linseed oil enamel disclosed in thepatent to Rupley, No. 806,5'Z4. After the conductor is coated with thisadhesive, it passes through the box 20 wheredt is coated with asbestos.This box contains the asbestos in a loose or fiocculent condition, and ablower 21 having a duct leading to the nozzle 22 blows the asbestos onthe wire. This process applies more of the material than is necessary asshown at 23, in fact more than can be taken care of when the coating issmoothed down. In order to remove this excess, I have provided thepicking box 2- In this box are provided a number of pickers. In thiscase I have shown three, all of which are operated by means of alongitudinal crank shaft 25 having pulleys 26 at opposite ends anddriven from the shaft 11 by means of belts 27.

The particular form ofpickcrs which I have shown are each arranged in aseparate compartment and are electromagnetically operated. I do not,however, limit my invention to any particular form of picking mechanismbut have shown the present form for purposes of illustration merely.

All of the pickers are identical in operation so that a description ofone of them will suflice.

A pair of jaws 28 and 29 pivoted to each other at 30 are arranged asshown in proximity to the wire. These jaws are arranged like a pair ofscissors and are spring-pressed to the open position by means of aspring 31. Mounted on the rear end of the lower member 29 is a magnet 32which is secured by means of a yoke 33 so as to be in proximity to therear end of the upper member 28. WVhen the magnet 32 is energized, the.rear end of member 28, which acts as an armature for the magnet 32, willbe attracted and the jaws close and when the magnet is deiinergized thespring 31 will open the jaws. The jaws are Supported by the member 34pivoted to the shaft 35, the member 34 being pivoted to the lower member29 at 36. The lower end of the member 34 is connected with the crankshaft '35 by means of the link or connecting rod 37 so that when theshaft is turned, the member 34 will be vibrated back and forth in awell-known manner, the parts assuming the position shown in dotted linesin F ig. 4. In order to control the circuit of the magnet 32, I haveprovided a switch mechanism 38 which opens and closes the circuit of themagnet 32 as the mechanism is vibrated back and forth from the Wire. Themechanism which I have shown consists of abase upon which is mounted aninsulating surface 39 and a conducting surface 40 separated by a flange41.

A spring cont actor 42 is provided with a projecting finger 43 adaptedto engage the rib or flange 41. When the parts are in the position shownin full lines, the finger 43 will be on the conducting portion and themagnet 32 will be energized so as to keep the jaws closed. As the jawsmove backward to the position shown in dotted lines the finger 43 willmove down along the flange 41 and will be pressed against the same bymeans of the spring arm 42. When the end of the flange is reached thefinger will snap past the same and on to theinsulation 39 shown indotted lines. This will open the circuit of the magnet and the spring 31will thereupon open the jaws. This operation will be continued at arapid rate and the jaws in the beginning of each operation are clearedby means of a pipe 44 from the blower 21. The magnet 32 is energizedfrom the source of electric energy 45, the circuit connections being asshown in Fig. 5. When the excess has been removed by means of thesepickers the wire passes through the box 46 containing the polishingcompound, such for instance as carnauba wax, and then passes through theroller 47 which makes the coating smooth and hard. The Wire then passesto the spool 48, which is mounted similarly to the spool 17 the spoolitself being rotated by means of a small motor 49.

It will be understood, of course, that the mechanism which I have shownfor accomplishing my invention is for purposes of illustrating the stepsof my process and that I do not regard my invention as limited to themechanism herein shown and described. Various modifications both of themechanism and the process itself will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention,the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

\V hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is,-

1. The process of insulating an electric conductor which consists inapplying asbestos fiber thereto in a fiocculent condition by means of anadhesive and then picking the excess fiber from the conductor.

2. The process of insulating an electric conductor which consists inapplying asbestos fiber thereto in a fiocculent condition by means of anadhesive and then picking the excess fiber from the conductor by meansof vibrating pickers.

3. The process of insulating an electric conductor which consists inapplying asbestos fiber thereto in a flocculent condition by means of anadhesive and then picking the excess fiber from the conductor by meansof pickers vibrating toward and from the In witness whereof, I havehereunto set my hand this 5th day of October, 1907.

GEORGE H. BUPLEY.

lVitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onrono.

